The office of Gov. Jerry Brown could give waivers to Tesla for significant portions of the California Environmental Quality Act and include tax breaks of up to $500 million, said Sen. Ted Gaines, a co-author of the bill.

“We are waiting for the finalization of the details,” Gaines told the Times. “We know we have to move quickly.”

CEQA requires state and local governments to identify potential threats to the environment and develop ways to reduce or eliminate any potential damage. State officials familiar with talks said Tesla might be allowed to start construction on the plant and mitigate any potential damage it causes later. The proposal has shocked some environmentalists, the Times wrote.

California is competing with Arizona, Nevada, Texas and New Mexico for Tesla's $5 billion battery plant and its accompanying 6,500 jobs.